Cool Moon Facts by Whip

Real astronomy, with sources. Folklore & tradition.

Fact #077 Observing

Serious lunar observers look at the same crater twice a month, because at last quarter the shadows fall the other way.

The Sun rises over a feature during the waxing half of the cycle and sets over it during the waning half, lighting it from the opposite side. Ridges that were invisible become obvious, and a crater that looked like a bowl can look like a dome. It is the same trick as walking around a sculpture, performed by waiting a fortnight.

Source: Lunar and Planetary Institute (opens in a new tab) · checked Aug 2026

Settings

Your location

Only used to work out rise and set times. It stays in this browser.

Moon orientation

Southern-hemisphere skies show the moon flipped. This follows your location automatically.

Saved facts

Everything saved here

This site keeps your location, your saved facts and your settings in this browser and nowhere else. Nothing is uploaded, and nothing here can be recovered once it is gone.

Cool Moon Facts · built by Whiptronics LLC

Gear that makes it better

Where these numbers come from